What Kind Of Man Is This?
“Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.”
Psalm 89:9 (KJV)
The Word embodied as Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, demonstrated His rulership over the elements, and that Jesus is Lord. Read also Psalm 107:23-31. Verse 29 says, “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still”. Matthew 8:23-27 contains the famous account of Christ stilling the storm, where they marvel and say, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!”
This time last year, much of the UK ground to a halt under a few inches of beautiful snow. This winter as we anticipate the harsher weather, it’s worth considering the following points:
- God is still sovereign over the elements, the stormy wind fulfils His word. He sends the lightning and the rain, the hail and snow, as attested to by Job and the Psalmists.
- God, The Master Forecaster, declares the end from the beginning—and makes it happen! He does not sit anxiously in front of the TV awaiting weather presenters to give the forecast so He can plan His operations for the week ahead!
Contrary to what some people have thought in centuries past, it’s not a sin to try and predict the weather. Mankind is made in the image of God (with restricted quantities of God’s abilities) therefore, since God, the Master Forecaster, declares the end from the beginning and makes it happen (Isaiah 46:10), we too try very hard to emulate God but with very limited success.
Christians accept that, as with other national weather services, the Met Office can only get the forecast right within the limits set by the Son of God “who upholds all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:1-3).
Prayer
Great God Our Creator, thank you because you are in charge of your creation including the weather. Thank you for the rain, sunshine and snow, and help us to marvel at Your greatness and majesty. Through the Almighty name of Jesus we pray.
Amen
Study by John Armstrong